It is a registered charity and an accredited member of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

[1] It was founded by Herbert E. Balch in 1893, to display his collection of local artefacts and memorabilia, and further exhibits have been added since.

It is run by the Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society and moved from its original site in the Cathedral cloister to its present home in 1932.

Other exhibits include lead ingots from Roman Britain, statuary from Wells Cathedral, and a collection of 18th century samplers.

Speleological exhibits include a skeleton found by Balch in Wookey Hole Caves and thought to be that of the Witch of Wookey Hole;[3] and a collection of animal bones found in 2004, when a cave was discovered in the car park of the Hunters Lodge Inn in Priddy.